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Our History
In 1991, a group from Seoul, Korea gathered for the sole purpose of giving disadvantaged children a glimmer of hope. They concentrated on projects such as orphanages, handicapped children programs, finding homes for widows stricken with poverty, rural community development and the assistance of disadvantaged families of Tuberculosis patients. Good Neighbors was born.

Those involved in the early days immediately realized the dire need of the same type of aid in other parts of the world. In 1994, Good Neighbors became deeply involved in the Rwandan refugee situation through the provision of several medical relief teams and the establishment and operation of two non-formal schools at the refugee camps. Good Neighbors had therefore become international.

Good Neighbors International as a formal entity was established in 1996 as the main headquarters for all operations around the world. In the following 12 years, our projects expanded from just 2 countries to a total of 22.
The United Nations
It was August of the same year that became a pivotal moment as Good Neighbors became the first international NGO from Korea to receive General Consultative Status, the highest status level, with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Under the Charter of the United Nations, the Economic and Social Council may consult with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) concerned with matters within the Council's competence. The Council recognizes that these organizations should have the opportunity express their views, and that they possess special experience or technical knowledge of value to the Council's work. Over 1,500 NGOs have consultative status with the Council. They are classified into three categories:
  • Category 1 organizations are those concerned with most of the Council's activities.
  • Category II organizations specialize in specific areas.
  • Category III organizations occasionally contribute to the Council and are placed on a roster for ad hoc consultations.
NGOs with consultative status may send observers to public meetings of the Council and its subsidiary bodies and may submit written statements with respect to the Council's work. They may also consult with the United Nations Secretariat on the matters of mutual concern. Good Neighbors has Category I status.
In November of 2007, Good Neighbors was granted the Millenium Development Goals Award for the advancement of primary education in developing countries. The MDGs were initiated by the AICESIS and the UN NGO IRENE.
Good Neighbors USA
Good Neighbors first established an American presence with its UN liaison office in New York, allowing for a greater capacity to work with a global network of NGOs in coordination with the United Nations.
But, it wasn't until the winter of 2007 that Good Neighbors USA found its official but humble beginnings in Los Angeles through funding from Good Neighbors Korea. Today, the organization looks quite different than it did when first conceived, but we hold strong to the tenets founded over 18 years ago:
  • Our vision is to connect people and give them the opportunity to help the poor.
  • We prescribe to a holistic approach which assists people in every facet of their need. Much of our effort is spent in helping youth, ultimately enabling the poorer young to become self-reliant.
  • Good Neighbors is an organization which offers assistance to anyone in need regardless of race, nationality, religion, ideology, or geographical constraints.
 
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Phone : (877) 499-9898 Fax : (877) 499-4565 Email : gnusa@gnusa.org
Good Neighbors USA
P.O. Box 31758
Los Angeles, CA 90031, USA
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